Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction based on the characters created by J. K. Rowling. The ownership of said characters belong to Miss Rowling and her publishers

The Janus Order

Chapter 5

Hermione stayed in the shadows and kept as quiet as she could for she knew the moment anyone remembered that she was there she would be sent out of the infirmary. With tears pouring down her face, she clutched the moonstone pendant that Harry had given her for Christmas as Madame Pomfrey along with Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape were trying greater and greater desperate measures to save Harry's life.

"Is that potion ready yet, Severus?" Madame Pomfrey demanded. "His heart's barely beating."

"Three minutes, minimum," Professor Snape answered. "Do what you must until then."

A teacart had be cleared and converted into a makeshift lab table. A portable fire was burning beneath a tiny brass cauldron that couldn't have held more then a pint. Professor Snape was stirring frantically watching the rate of boil and colour of the mixture.

Professor Dumbledore had his thumbs on Harry's temples as his index and middle fingers covered both of Harry's eyes. Dumbledore's own eyes were locked on a clear spinning fist sized crystal that Professor McGonagall kept levitated two feet above Harry's midsection.

Hermione, unable to sleep, had wandered down to the Gryffindor common room in the wee hours of the morning. There she found Harry staring into the fireplace with unblinking eyes. Unable to roust him, Hermione ran to Madame Pomfrey who raised the hue and cry for her colleagues. They had been working on him for over an hour with no success.

With a loud gasp, Dumbledore suddenly tumbled backwards off of the stool he was sitting on in a faint. Fortunately, Madame Pomfrey was stepping behind him at that moment and was able to break his fall. She eased him to the floor and checked the pulse and eyes of the unconscious headmaster.

"Keep his head elevated, Minerva," She ordered. She hopped to her feet and ran from the room as soon as Professor McGonagall took her place beside Dumbledore. Within moments she returned with a vial of green liquid.

Dumbledore chocked and sputtered as the nurse poured the solution down his throat but it revived him. He looked shockingly old to Hermione. It was only with the aid of the two women was he able to get off of the floor and onto a chair.

"I could feel his presence but I couldn't find him," He said in a hoarse, weak voice. "I had hoped that the trust we had established in these last few months would have been enough."

"The potion is ready," Snape called out as he took the small cauldron off the fire. He quickly performed a cooling charm and carefully he poured half of it into a glass of milk. He handed the glass to the nurse. McGonagall raised Harry's head up as Madame Pomfrey poured the emulsion passed Harry's lips. Hermione watched as Harry's adam's apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed. McGonagall gently lowered Harry back down on the pillow.

"How much time will the solution give us?" Dumbledore asked from his chair.

"If his body can take another dose, six hours," Pomfrey said. "If not, three or four hours."

"Either way, there's not enough time to bring Jane or Sirius here," McGonagall said sadly.

Dumbledore lowered his head on to his balled hands and wailed. "I knew I was teaching him too much too fast."

"Albus, you had no way of knowing that he would branch off into to this area on his own," McGonagall said as she knelt beside Dumbledore and took him into her arms. "How few grown wizards dare such a thing?"

Dumbledore looked at her with tear filled eyes. "I should have anticipated it. It is a natural facet of what I was teaching him and he is a clever boy."

Hermione stepped out of the shadows.

"Please," she begged. "Please tell me what is wrong with Harry."

The four adults looked at her in surprise.

"Don't tell to leave," she said. "Tell me what is wrong with Harry."

Professor Snape sighed. "Do you know what astral projection is?"

"In general terms I do," Hermione answered. "It's the ability to leave one's physical body and travel around the world in spirit form but we aren't taught anything like that here. I've seen the curriculum for all seven years."

"Do you know what legilimency and occlumency are?" Professor Snape asked.

"Mind reading and I guess you would say mind defense," Hermione replied.

"Astral projection is a step somewhat beyond legilimency and occlumency but it is on the same path," Professor Snape told her. "Harry has been practicing the latter two disciples since last July. Unfortunately, it appears that he stumbled upon the ability to project himself. He is now either unable or unwilling to return to his body so the body is dying from the abandonment. The sustaining life energy is dwindling."

"But why would he be unwilling to return?" Hermione asked. "Where in the world would be so enticing that he is willing to die to stay there?"

"Child, part of the danger of projection is that there are many dimensions available in astral form that aren't accessible to us in this reality," Professor McGonagall said wearily as she stood. "Harry may have found a place that brings him so much joy that he doesn't wish to return especially knowing what his future holds here."

"But also there are planes on which demons move far more freely then they do in this one and pose great peril to wizards unwary enough to encounter them," Dumbledore said. "But I didn't sense danger or fear during the few times I felt Harry."

"Why couldn't you find him?" Hermione demanded.

"Because whatever he feels for me is not enough to overcome the allure of wherever he is," the headmaster admitted sadly. "If his aunt and uncle were here, maybe but there is no way to get in contact with them and get them here before Harry dies."

"He would return for me," Hermione said in a voice scarcely above a whisper.

"What was that?" McGonagall asked.

"He would return if I asked him to," she said in a more forceful voice although she blushed a deep crimson.

Everybody turned to Dumbledore. Dumbledore stared at the supine body of Harry Potter, a child he had grown to love as his own son. He watched as the sheet covering his unexpectedly well muscled body rise and fall with each slow breath. He was an eleven year old boy but he was the best and perhaps last hope for a magical Britain free of the dark menace.

"You are her lecturers," Dumbledore finally said. "Do you think that she can be guided through the process and still return safely?"

"She's very intelligent," Professor McGonagall replied.

"Tricky," Professor Snape said. "Damn tricky but if there is any student here that could be successful without any training I would say that it would be Miss Granger."

"Severus, will you guide her?" Dumbledore asked.

"She is pubescent, Headmaster," Professor Snape answered. "There would be too many distracts for her if I were to attempt to guide her."

"It's a valid point, Albus," Professor McGonagall said. "I don't have Severus' skill but it would probably be smoother if I were the guide."

Dumbledore reluctantly nodded his assent. "You do so, Minerva. Severus, the crystal."

McGonagall beaconed Hermione to her side. "Child, how much do you trust me?"

"I trust you as much as I trust anyone save my parents," Hermione answered.

"What we are going to attempt requires an incredible level of intimacy," the older woman explained. "Its not as if I am going to run amuck through your memories but the barriers from mind to mind will be vague at times. You will feel as if you are losing your sense of identity. This will be very frightening but you must not give into that fear."

"I understand, Professor," Hermione answered.

"No, you don't," McGonagall said kindly. "Tell me about that pendant you're wearing."

"It was my Christmas gift from Harry," Hermione replied. "It's the first piece of grown up jewelry I ever had."

Professor McGonagall cupped Hermione's chin in her hand. "Tell me, child, is it the gift or the giver that makes it so important to you?"

"The giver," Hermione confessed.

"Remove your nightgown and sit down on the stool there," McGonagall said as she took off her robe.

"I am afraid that skin to skin contact will be necessary, Hermione," the professor said compassionately when she saw the embarrassed reluctance of the girl. "But leave the necklace on."

Hermione closed her eyes and pulled her gown over her head. Irrationally, she thought of her mother's warnings about wearing clean knickers at all times.

"If you can creak an eye open long enough to walk over here and sit down," McGonagall said sardonically.

Hermione opened one eye. Professor Snape had his back turned toward her and was concentrating on keeping the crystal levitated. The Headmaster had his head turned to the far wall. Madame Pomfrey was beside Harry's bed opposite of Professor Snape.

"I want you to grasp that pendant in your left hand and place the fingertips of your right hand on Harry's forehead," She said as Hermione sat down on the stool. "Relax and concentrate on the spinning crystal."

Hermione did as she was commanded. Professor McGonagall pressed her forehead against the back of Hermione's head. She wrapped her arms around Hermione, her crossed hands resting over the young girl's heart and under Hermione's left hand. Hermione felt the professor's breasts pressed against her back.

It began slowly. First, Hermione became conscious of her own heart beating below McGonagall's hands. Then the heartbeat took on an odd echo effect. Hermione realized that she was hearing and feeling the older woman's heart beat also. Soon they were beating together. McGonagall slowed down the rhythm.

Hermione felt a prickle in her brain as if a light electrical current was dancing over it. Hermione suffered a wave of panic as she suddenly saw two crystals. She was seeing through McGonagall's eyes.

"Stay calm," the voice echoed from without and within her mind.

Hermione fought down the panic. Odds and ends of memory darted across her consciousness. That dashing RAF pilot that she so idolized when she was a girl. The elation and relief at hearing of the defeat of Grindelwald.

"Focus on the crystal," McGonagall's voice called out as if from a cave.

She peered deeper into the crystal. Thousands and thousands of shards of light shot from it; multicoloured rays of light but they moved through space so leisurely as if light had become liquid. The room disappeared as wave after wave of light washed over her.

Hermione felt as if she was becoming part of the light. She could no longer feel her heartbeat.

Something caught her eye beyond the crystal. A twisted shimmering rope grew out of Harry's body like a metallic vine. It disappeared into the night sky.

Hermione felt herself straining for the rope.

"Yes, child. Follow the cord. Harry is at the other end."

There was a painless snap and Hermione rose. She became aware of the breeze from her wings as she flew around and around the silver rope. She went higher and higher. She flew to the stars.